Visual Arts from Canada & Around the World

Micropolis 2.0: A Wonder

One of Canadian Art Junkie’s all-time reader favourites, from the archives.

Micropolis 2.0 is a multimedia universe made of silkscreen cutouts and digital prints that explores urban life and the relationships between people and large cities. This is a work of wonder, as Québécois artists Allison Moore and Arthur Desmarteaux call it.

It’s an evolving installation of collaged screen and digital prints, assembled to evoke a busy commercial street with pedestrians, creatures and vehicles, inspired by the cityscapes of Québec City, Montréal and Toronto.

The diorama also includes sections of woodcuts and LCD video screens in the “building windows” showing animated loops and an accompanying soundtrack.

The artists say the project “is intended to convey a sense of wonder, awe and contemplation. Looking though the microscope, viewers are drawn in a god-like perspective, entering a strange theatrical dimension.”

Allison Moore is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Vancouver Island, now located in Montréal. She has produced projects in Ecuador, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Her website is here.

Arthur Desmarteaux obtained a BFA in media & visual arts from University of Québec in Montréal. He is an active member of Graff Studios in Montreal, ARPRIM [Association for the promotion of Printed Arts in Québec] and the Puppet Association of Québec. His website is here.

Allison and Arthur’s work is so fun! The tongue-in-cheek vibe and intricate detail remind me of another Canadian artist, Chris Millar.

I just saw an exhibition of his work at the Alberta Art Gallery and fell totally in love. I found all sorts of cultural commentary in his pieces from the Edmonton Oilers to oilpatch attitudes. In order to see all the intricacies, the AGA had several big magnifying glasses available for a deeper look. He might be worth looking into for a future post 🙂

That’s a great suggestion. I had heard of him, seen a bit of his work, and I know he’s part of the Oh Canada exhibition at MASS MoCA in the U.S. right now. But it was your comment about the cultural commentary — and the magnifying glass – – that makes me think I should take a closer look. Really appreciate that. Thanks.